Big waves to give way to back-to-back storms in San Diego

Waves in the 12-foot plus wave pounded Torrey Pines on Wednesday afternoon. The big swell will last at least through Thursday

Waves in the 12-foot plus wave pounded Torrey Pines on Wednesday afternoon. The big swell will last at least through Thursday (Gary Robbins/Union-Tribune)

Gary Robbins

A powerful winter swell out of the west-northwest will pound South San Diego County beaches with 6’ to 8’ waves, with occasional sets to 10’ to 12’, throughout most of Thursday — on a relatively warm day.

The National Weather Service says San Diego will hit 71 degrees on Thursday, and possibly reach into the 70s on Friday.

Sea surface temperatures will stay in the upper 50s.

But change is on the way. San Diego is going to get back-to-back storms.

The first one will arrive late Friday night or early Saturday and produce between a quarter and a half-inch of rain in San Diego, with higher amounts across inland foothills and mountains.

The first system will arrive late Friday night or early Saturday.

The first system will arrive late Friday night or early Saturday.

There will be partial clearing Saturday night into Sunday. Then the second system will move ashore Sunday into Monday, and could bring showers into Tuesday, the weather service says.

Forecasters say the two storms could collectively drop between 1’’ and 1.5’ of rain in San Diego, which is running far above seasonal average.

Since October 1, San Diego International Airport has recorded 5.30” of rain, which is 1.6’’ above average, the weather service says. Oceanside Airport has recorded 4.16”, about 0.73” below average.